Austin vs Bucharest vs Budapest vs Istanbul vs Seoul vs Tbilisi

Austin 🇺🇸
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Bucharest 🇷🇴
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Budapest 🇭🇺
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Istanbul 🇹🇷
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Seoul 🇰🇷
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Tbilisi 🇬🇪
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 1,768,073 15,520,000 9,963,452 1,108,700
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Hungarian Turkish Korean Georgian
Level of English Very high High High Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) Istanbul Airport (IST) Incheon International Airport (ICN) Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October March - June, September - November April - June, September and October March - May, September - November March - June
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) HUF - Hungarian Forint (Ft) TRY - Turkish Lira (₺) KRW - South Korean won (₩) GEL - Georgian Lari (₾)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere, cash needed for small shops Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No No No No Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $1230 $659 $2184 $1462
Rent $1650 $615 $499 $354 $797 $752
Groceries $243 $114 $108 $44 $356 $112
Dining out $396 $165 $202 $81 $211 $169
Cafe $66 $38 $29 $18 $69 $45
Coworking space $331 $133 $120 $49 $222 $125
Mobile internet $40 $7 $9 $3 $40 $4
Public transportation $110 $21 $36 $6 $40 $8
Taxis $73 $9 $27 $6 $41 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $13 $2 $13 $27
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $24 $11 $39 $21
Museums and sights $11 $29 $7 $15 $6 $9
Nightlife $124 $45 $43 $22 $93 $53
Gym $62 $30 $37 $9 $69 $33
Yoga $139 $59 $48 $23 $112 $37
Massage $89 $31 $26 $15 $75 $53
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Vodafone, Telenor Turkcell, Turk Telekom KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis 10 - 15% at restaurants and bars Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars Not customary or expected 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafés.
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber Bolt, Fotaxi BiTaksi Uber, Kakao Yandex, Bolt
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. Magyar cuisine makes extensive use of creams, cheeses and sauces primarily in beef, chicken and pork dishes, mixed with seasonal vegetables, fruits and rich desserts. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Emphasis on rice, vegetables, spices and meats. Main dishes are coupled with diverse side dishes and desserts. Strong driking culture. Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mămăligă, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbă de burtă, covrig, papanasi Goulash, Fisherman's soup, Főzelék, Somloi Galuska, Pörkölt and Paprikás, Kürtös Kalács, Hungarian Lecsó, Lángos Döner, İçli Köfte, Dondurma, Karnıyarık, Turkish delight Kimchi, bulgogi, chap chae, mandu, sam gae tang, bossam Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Local markets, cafés, taverns, street food, traditional restaurants Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Smaller, local eateries (sikdang), street stalls and local markets Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 47 options on HappyCow 59 listings on Happy Cow 57 options on Happy Cow 10 options on Happy Cow